Flashlight switch



April 4, 1950 D. L. SPENDER FLASHLIGHT swrrcu Filed Dec. 3, 1947 Jaw; EY

JNVENTOR. (Zvewr *Mvmf H223 rne ls' Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Scovill Manufacturin Conn., a corporation g Company, Waterbury,

1 Connecticut Application December 3, 1947, Serial No. 789,540

1 ll-Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in flashlight switches and has for an object to provide a simple mechanical form of slidable and tiltable operating button for closing and opening the lamp circuit of a flashlight in which the parts are spring biased to a circuit open position with the button interlocked against casual or accidental sliding movement to a circuit completing position; the construction consequently requiring of the operator the conscious tilting or rocking of the button by a forcible depressing movement upon the heel of the same prior to that forward slidable shifting of the button which carries its internal entrained conductor slide strip into a circuit closing contact with the metallic lamp unit or other part of the lamp circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved switch for flashlights and the like in which the external button is protectingly nested and contained within a housing adapted for external application to the casing wall of the flashlight in and about a slotted portion of such wall through which parts of the button are slidingly and rockingly received to have detachable engagement with a conductor slide strip mounted within the casing, to the end that the interlocking engagement between the strip and button parts may be separated by a convenient manipulation to enable the parts to be detached from the flashlight casing; and in like manner the original attachment and assembly of both internal and external parts may be made to the flashlight construction simply and quickly.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a switch unit for flashlights which may be manufactured and sold separately from the flashlight and applied thereto in a quick and easy manner owing to the quick detachable nature of the construction between the conductor slide strip and internal fingers of the external operating button while at the same time preserving that relationship between a resilient inwardly bowed portion of the slide strip and the button fingers which tensions the button to an inwardly rocked position where it is interlocked with a part of its protecting housing in the open position of the circuit; and wherein further the bowed portion may be sprung so that interlocking projections thereof are moved out of slots of the button fingers which enables the conductor to he slid longitudinally of the button to release the button from the interlocking association with the strip whereupon the button may be withdrawn radially outward from the casing and from its housing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section taken through a conventional flashlight and illustrat ing an improved switch constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in the open position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts broken away and showing the improved switch in the closed position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a form of switch button employed taken from the outer side thereof.

Figure 6 is a similar view taken from the inner side of the button.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a form of switch housing employed.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a form of conductor slide strip employedj Referring more particularly to the drawings, in designates a metallic lamp shell or casing which is modified according to the present invention by slotting the same as indicated at I I.

The forward end of the casing i0 contains the metallic lamp unit I2, generally consisting of reflector and lamp. This metallic unit I! is insulated from the casing l0, being carried by an insulating threaded forward cap ring [3.

One or more dry cells or batteries H are loaded into the casing l0 generally through the front end thereof. The usual spring I5 is seated beneath the cells It; and the cells and the casing and lamp unit are in a circuit of a usual type. One side of the circuit to the lamp is directly through the batteries l4 and the other side is through the casing in and through a conductor strip which forms part of the present invention and is more particularly illustrated in Figure 8.

This conductor strip is preferably made from resilient material constructed with a forward contact arm [1 which stands up freely in the forward portion of the casing and advantageously may have an inturned free edge l8 suitable for moving into and out of contact with the metallic lamp unit II.

The rear portion of the conductor slide strip designed to engage the interior surface of the side wall of the casing above and below the slot H and to slide axially within said casing in opening and closing the circuit. Between the shoes I! and 20 the slide strip is inwardly bowed as at 2| and provided with one or more lugs 22 and 23. These lugs 22 and 23 are at an intermediate portion of the spring bow 2| and project inwardly on the convex side thereof. These lugs may be cut and bent from the material of the bow 2|, in which case the incisions in the strip may preferably be offset and the lugs 22 and 23 bent down from relatively opposite ends of the incisions to avoid undue weakening of the strip at the central part of the bow 2|, but preserving the lateral alignment of the lugs 22, 23, which however is not an essential feature of the invention, it being suincient that one or more projections of any character be mounted upon suitable deformable parts of the resilient bow 2|.

The lugs 22, 23 are adapted to detachably enter slots 2| in the inturned flanges 25 of fingers 2B which project inwardly from the side walls 21 of a switch button or thumb piece illustrated more particularly in Figures 5 and 6 of which the top wall or shell is indicated at 23. This top wall has corrugated, knurled or otherwise roughened portions 29 and 30.

The forward portion of the switch button constitutes a nose 3| while the rear portion functions as a heel as hereinafter described. Fulcrum points 33 are provided just rearwardly of the fingers 26 on the lower edges of the side walls 21;

these fulcrum points 33 being at the forward end of the heel 32.

The switch button is receivable in a centrally depressed portion of a housing shown more particularly in Figure 7 and comprising generally a base wall 34, side walls 33 and end walls 33. The end walls 33 are of less height than the side walls and beyond the end walls are flat walls 31 substantially parallel with the base wall 34 and stepped down from the outer edges of the deeper side walls 35. Beyond the flat walls 31 are sloping front and rear end walls 33.

outwardly beyond the side walls 35 are outer side walls 39 having lugs or tabs 40 in any suitable number projecting from their inner edges and adapted to pass through slots II in the wall of the flashlight casing Ill and be clinched over on the inside of the same as indicated in Figure 3 to mount the housing to the casing. This housing may be made in one piece of sheet metal in which case the outer side walls 33 are rolled or folded over from the upper edges of the inner side walls 35 in the manner indicated in Figure 4 with the outer side walls 33 preferably diverging away from the parallel inner side walls 35.

In the base wall 33 are one or more slots 42 positioned to receive therethrough the fingers 26 of the button. The slots 42 are of greater length than the fingers 26 to permit the button to slide forwardly and rearwardly in the housing.

From an inspection of Figure 1 it will be clear that the lower edges of the heel 32 of the button from the fulcrum points 33 are inclined rearwardly and outwardly to give the necessary clearance in tilting or rocking the button from the position of Figure l to that of Figure 2. Also the under edge of the nose 3| is inclined as indicated at 44 from a point beneath the free forward edge of the button back and outwardly to the fingers 26 in order to provide an under edge for the nose which will be substantially parallel with the raised seat 31 when the button is in the forward position shown inFigure 2,

The three parts of the switch unit comprising the housing, button and conductor strip may be sold separately if desired and are applicable to any flashlight. The only modification of the conventional flashlight required is the provision of a suitable slot II in the side wall of the shell or casing ID. of course the device may be installed on the flashlights at the factory as a part of the original equipment.

In assembling, after the slot II has been made in the side wall of the casing and similar slits ll made on opposite sides of the slot II the housing, in the condition of Figure 7, is assembled to the external wall of the casing l3 in a position to interflt the lugs MI in the slits 4| such lugs ll being clinched over on the inside wall of the casing Ill; access for this purpose being gained through the forward end of the casing after removal of the ring I3 and the metallic lamp unit |2.

The button switch is thereupon introduced into the depressed portion of the housing with the fingers 26 leading and passing through the slots 42 and II. The button will be of a length substantially comparable to that of the depressed portion of the housing. The button is held by pressure of the fingers of one hand in the housing, for instance in substantially the position shown in Figure 1, while the other hand introduces the conductor slide strip down through the forward open end of the casing with the rear shoe 23 leading and the strip is passed between the inturned flanges'25 of the button and the inner surface of the casing wall It, the resilient bow 2| flexing outwardly or toward the wall ll in this maneuver until the lugs or projections 22 and 23 encounter the forward edges of the fingers 2G and their flanges 25; whereupon by pressure of the fingers upon the bow 2| radially outward or toward the housing these lugs 22, 23 may be caused to move outwardly to clear the fingers 26 and flanges 25. Thus these lugs 22, 23 pass inwardly of the flanges 25 and when the slide strip is lowered to the point where the projections 22, 23 are opposite the slots 24, the inherent resiliency of the bow 2| will spring the projections 22, 23 outwardly and into the slots 24. Thus the conductor slide strip will be errtrained to move up and down with the external button.

The bow 2| will be of such curvature and radius in relation to the length of the fingers 26 that it will place the button constantly under resilient pressure tending to draw the button radially inward into the depressed portion of the housing. The line of developed pressure on the button is betweenthe nose 3| and the fulcrum 33 and consequently the button will be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction about the fulcrum 33 from the aspect of Figure l, which will cause the nose 3| to seek an inner position against the bottom wall 34 and against the shoul der 36. This is the position of Figure 1 and the open position of the switch.

The switch is closed by depressing the heel 32, which causes the button to rotate clockwise about the fulcrum 33, and when the nose 3| clears the abutment shoulder 36, by sliding the button forwardly to the position of Figure 2 which is the closed position of the strip arm l1 against the so that the hand of the operator may be removed without opening the switch.

To open the switch the conscious and forcible effort on the part of the operator to slide the button rearwardly is necessary for that distance which clears the nose 3| of the raised seat 31; whereupon the bow spring 2| will become effective to rotate the button counter-clockwise about the fulcrum 33 to snap the nose 3| down into the depressed portion and against the locking shoulder 36.

It will be apparent that the top shell 28 of the button is so constructed and arranged that the sequential movements of depressing the heel 32 and sliding the button forwardly may be accomplished with ease in the same sweeping movement of the hand and that when the heel is depressed it automatically assumes a more favorable position for pushing forwardly upon the button.

In detaching the switch unit, the ring I3 is removed and the pressure of the hand exerted on the bow 2| to flex the same outwardly to an extent to shift the lugs 22, 23 out of the slots 24 and, as soon as the lugs 22, 23 clear the flanges 25 the conductor slide strip is pulled upwardly completely withdrawing it from the arms 26 and the flanges 25. The strip is thus released to be drawn outwardly through the forward open end of the casing l and the button is released to be pulled outwardly radially away from the housing.

When the device is in place the housing with its relatively high side walls35 and 39 acts as a protection for the switch, the switch being nested within the depressed portion thereof and being guided in its sliding movement by the side walls.

While I have disclosed herein the best form of the invention known to me at the present time, I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right to make changes and modifications in the herein described embodiment of the invention provided such changes fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. For use with a flashlight casing having a slot therein and a metallic lamp socket, a switch unit comprising a conductor slide strip adapted to be mounted in said casing to open and close against the metallic lamp socket, a housing having means for afiixation to the external wall of the casing about said slot and having a slot there-" in registerin with the slot of the casing, said housing having a depressed portion with relatively high side walls and relatively low end walls and with a raised seat adjacent the outer end wall, and a slidable and rockable switch button having a fulcrum mounted on the bottom of said depressed portion of the housing adjacent the rear end of the slot and having a nose with a forward edge to engage the forward end wall and an under surface to rest upon said seat, said button having parts slidably projecting through the registering slots and having parts embracing the slide strip and detachably connected therewith.

2. For use with a flashlight having a, slotted casing wall and a metallic lamp socket, an improved switch unit comprising a housing having means to attach the same to the casing and having a slot adapted to register with the casing wall slot and further having a locking shoulder, a switch button slidably and rockably mounted in said housing and having fingers projecting through the slots with inturned flanges adapted to be spaced internally of the casing away from the casing wall, said flanges having slots, and a conductor slide strip adapted to be fitted slidably inside the casing for movement toward and from the metallic lamp socket and having a resilient bowed portion adapted to be slid into the space between the casing wall and said flanges to compress the bowed portion, said bowed portion having projections on its inner convex side for detachably entering the slots in said flanges, said switch button having a fulcrum on the housing and a locking nose engageable against the shoulder of the housing, said fingers being between said fulcrum and nose.

3. An improved switch unit as claimed in claim 2 characterized by the fact that said button has a heel portion rearwardly of the fingers and said fulcrum with a rearwardly and outwardly inclined under edge, said nose having a rearwardly and outwardly inclined under edge for engaging a rest on the housing forwardly of the locking shoulder when the switch is rocked and slid forwardly to further compress the bowed portion of the slide strip.

4. For use with a flashlight having a side wall with a slot therein and a metallic lamp socket, a switch unit comprising a conductor slide strip adapted to be placed in said casing and having a forward portion adapted to move into and out of contact with said metallic lamp socket to close and open the lamp circuit, said slide strip having at its rear portion spaced shoes adapted to slide on the inner surface of the casing wall and a resilient inwardly bowed portion between said shoes with a projection on the inner convex side of the bow portion, a switch housing having means for amxing the same to the side wall of the casing, said switch housin having a slot therein registerin with the casing wall slot, said housing having a shoulder and a raised seat adjoining the shoulder, and a switch button rockably and slidably mounted in said housing and having a fulcrum at its intermediate portion for pivoting on the rear wall of the housing slot,

-said button having a nose forwardly of the fulcrum for engaging said shoulder and raised seat and having a heel at its rear portion rearwardly of the fulcrum with an inner beveled edge for rocking the nose away from the shoulder, said button having fingers between the nose and fulcrum adapted to project inwardly and slidably in the slots in the housing and casing wall and having inturned slotted fingers for detachably engaging the bowed portion of the slide and the projection thereof.

5. For use with a flashlight casing having a slot therein and a lamp unit attached to one end of the casing, a switch unit comprising a conductor slide strip adapted to be mounted in said casing to open and close a circuit through said lamp unit, a switch button adapted to be mounted on the outside of said casing having finger means adapted to pass through the casing slot for detachable engagement with said slide strip, said casing having a stop means adjacent said opening, said stop means also being adjacent to said switch button and retaining said switch button in an open-circuit position, said switch button having a fulcrum point so as to be tiltable on the outer surface of said casing, and means on said button engaging said stop to maintain said button in the open circuit position and requiring a tilting action of said switch button to release said button relative to said stop means.

6. An electric switch adapted for mounting on a flashlight casing having an opening in the sidewall thereof, said switch comprising a slidable external control button, a contactor slide strip adapted to be mounted inside said casing, said button having extended portions passing through said casing opening and releasably connected to said strip, said strip having an intermediate portion formed to provide a spring tension for frictionally holding said button against the outside of said casing. a stop means on said casing adjacent said opening, said stop means also being adjacent to said switch button and retaining said switch button in an open circuit position, and said button having a fulcrum point on the outside of said casing and also having a nose portion normally abutting said stop, said button adapted to be tilted about its fulcrum point against the spring influence of said slide strip for releasing said button relative to said casing stop means.

7. An electric switch adapted for mounting on a flashlight casing having an opening in the sidewall thereof, said switch comprising a slidable external control button, a contactor slide strip mounted inside said casing and having an intermediate bowed portion, said button having extended portions passing through said casing opening and removably interlocked with the bowed portion of said'slide, a stop means on said casing adjacent said opening, said stop means also being adjacent to said switch button and retaining said switch button in an open circuit position, said button having a fulcrum point on the outside of said casing and designed for tilting action thereabout, said button having a nose portion normally abutting said stop means, said connection between said button and slide maintaining the bowed portion of said slide in elastically deformed position furnishing operating tension for said contact button and requiring a tilting operation of said button to release it from said stop means.

8. For use in a flashlight having a slotted casing and a lamp unit attached to one end of the casing, a switch unit comprising a stop adapted to be mounted on said casing, an elevated seat adjacent said stop, a switch button adapted to be mounted on said casing for slidable and rocking movement and having a part adapted to slide in the slotted portion oi. the casing and adapted to extend into said casing, a conductor slide strip adapted to be detachably connected to said part of the switch button within the casing and to open and close a circuit through the lamp unit, and resilient means for biasing said switch button to a position against said stop in the open-circuit position of said slide strip and to hold the outwardly rocked portion of the switch button on said elevated seat after the switch button has been rocked and slid to the circuit-closing position of said slide strip.

9. For use in a flashlight having a slotted casing and a lamp unit attached to one end of the casing, a switch unit comprising a switch button adapted to be slldably and rockably mounted upon the outside of the casing and having a forward nose portion toward the lamp unit and a fulcrum spaced rearwardly of said nose and a part extending from the switch button between the fulcrum and nose adapted to slide in the slot of the casing, a conductor slide strip adaptedto be detachably mounted to said part within the casing for sliding into and out of contact with the lamp unit for opening and closing the lamp circuit, a stop adapted to be mounted on the casing in the path of said nose, and an elevated seat adapted to be mounted on the casing adjacent said stop for receiving the underside of the nose in the outwardly rocked position of such nose on said fulcrum, and resilient means acting on said part of the switch button tending to rock the nose inwardly against said stop in the open-circuit position of said slide strip and to frictionally bind the underside of said nose on said elevated seat in the closed position of the slide strip against the lamp unit.

10. A switch unit as claimed in claim 9 characterized by the fact that the resilient means is an elastic bow portion of the slide strip arched inwardly from the internal wall of the casing and confined under tension within a flange of said part of the switch button.

11. A switch unit as claimed in claim 10 in which the bow has an inturned lug for occupying a slot of the flange of the switch button part to entrain the slide strip to slidably move with the switch button.

DONALD L, SPENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,458,460 Arnoll June 12, 1923 2,359,597 Wood Oct. 3, 1944 

